Bottle crate of synthetic material



Feb. 18, 1969 A. scHorELLER 3,428,206

BOTTLE CRATE OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL Filed April 26, 1965 sheet 2 of 2 United States Patent O BOTTLE CRATE OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL Alexander Schoeller, Gottiugen, Germany, assignor to Firma Alexander Schoeller & C0., Flaschenkastenwerk,

Gottingen, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,635

Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 25, 1964,

Sch 35,043, Sch 35,045; Jan. 16, 1965, Sch 36,392 U.S. Cl. 220-21 6 Claims Int. Cl. B65d 1/24, 2]/02, 57/00 ABSTRACT OF 'IHE DISCLOSURE A molded plastic bottle transport crate having an upper and lower frame spaced vertically apart and rigidly connected via supporting wall portions at positions intermediate the corners of the crate defining corner spaces and central spaces therebetween and including reinforcing ribs on said wall portions projecting inwardly into the crate and leading into the partitions within the lower frame forming the compartments.

The present invention relates to bottle transportation crates with compartments, made of molded plastic material, particularly for beer bottles, milk bottles, and the like.

Known crates of this class consist of a rigid upper frame formed as a gripping edge or rim and of a bottom frame, these frames being connected by means of vertical supports provided in the corners of the crate. The bottom frame extends up to about half the crate height and lodges a framework defining and providing the respective distances of the inserted bottles.

In rough service, for example during transportation on trucks, the crates are subject to heavy loads and stresses. In particular, the lowermost crates carry the total weight of the -superposed crates during vertical stacking of the crates, the entire load actually resting on the corner posts or supports.

It has been proposed, therefore, to reinforce the corner supports by vertically disposed outer ribs which, for example, delimit laterally the supports. For a further stiffening of the corner supports, it has also become known to apply an additional outer rib to the corners of the supports, the form of the outer rib Ycorresponding under circumstances with the bending or buckling stresses.

With a view to reinforce the crates in horizontal and diagonal directions, appropriately directed outer ribs have also been provided. A similar purpose is served by intersecting ribs provided inside the crate bottom or forming .the bottom proper, as well as longitudinal and transverse walls of the bottle compartments.

The purpose of these expedients is the possibly highest rigidity of the crates combined with a possibly lowest weight.This is important for vseveral reasons. First, similar crates are conventionally produced by an injection or other molding process in a single step. In the interest of a possibly simple and fast production, it is necessary that the required amount of synthetic or plastic material is possibly small. Sometimes the used plastic substance is relatively expensive, so that a reduction in the required quantity may bring about substantial savings. Secondly, the bottle transporting crate represents only dead weight which has always been endeavored to ICC be kept possibly low. Manipulation of the crates is also easier if the weight is kept at a minimum.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a bottle crate which is either lower in weight than the known cra-tes, while still ensuring the same degree of rigidity, or which provides a higher rigidity at the same weight.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bot-tle crate which has an upper frame formed into a gripping rim and a bottom frame surrounding a framework. The gripping rim and lthe bottom frame are connected by vertical supports which leave free the corners and have inwardly directed ribs, which lead into the walls of the framework. By example, two supports each can be provided on the two endand/or side walls of the crate.

The stability or the moment of resistance of these supports is higher than that of the hitherto known four corner posts or supports, when using the same amount of material. Or, in other words, both the material requirement and the weight can be reduced while obtaining the same degree of stability and resistance to strain. This results from the well known principle that the total stability or resistance moment of two supports of identical cross-sections is larger than that of a single support having twice the cross-section of those mentioned before.

The following important advantages result from the support formation according to the present invention, having particular importance for the practical manipula- Vti-on of the crates. Quite frequently the crates have to be removed or lifted from a truck or, in turn, deposited on the platform of a truck. So far as crates could be gripped only at their top frames or rims and had to be lifted in a rather uncomfortable and straining manner, with -stretched arms and at first applied about lthe horizontal gripping rim, then carried a certain distance and deposited thereat.

lIn contradistinction, the crates according to the present invention can more comfortably be held onto and Icarried by taking hold of the vertical supports which are intermediate .the crate corners.

It happens frequently that a particular crate having a particular content has to be unloaded which happens to be located between and underneath other crates. In this case, the adjoining crates prevent .the removal of such a crate at the corner supports. In the crates designed in accordance with the present invention, the vertical supports can be easily reached at any time.

-The above considerations are valid also in an analogous manner for crates which are supposed to be stacked or disposed in such staple. The inventive arrangement of the vertical supports olfers also the possibility -to carry the crates not only on the end face and side face at the gripping edge, rather the crates can be gripped also at the corners, which facilitates the gripping in many instances.

It is another important advantage that the freely protruding lengths of the gripping rim and also of the bottom frame are considerably shortened, particularly at the lateral walls of the crates. This makes for a further improvement in the load distribution, and the corresponding cross-sections can be reduced, while maintaining the same rigidity, as compared with a crate of hitherto known construction. In this manner a fur-ther material saving is to be achieved.

An additional increase of .the rigidity of the supports is achieved by another important feature of the present invention such that the outer surface of the supports is outwardly curved. It has been observed that the supports buckle toward the inside of the crate during load tests. If, however, the outer surface of the supports is curved outwardly, the curvature or arch would have to be stretched at first by lifting the load. In this manner the premature load-bearing capacity of the crates, without or with only slight increase of material consummation is brought about.

For the practical forming of the curvature, several possibilities are available. Thus, for example, the entire support can easily be curved slightly outwardly. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the outer surface of the supports can be formed spherical by means of an accumulation of material, slightly tapering toward its top and bottom ends. Then the inner surf-ace of the support remains advantageously without cutbacks and the costs of .the injection molds are not increased.

The spherical configuration of the outer face of the supports hardly alters the appearance of the crates. As against an additional outer rib applied to the supports, this proposed measure has the advantage that a mutual interengagement of the crates is prevented, which would result in disturbances when transporting the crates on conveyor systems and the like.

A multiplicity of possibilities is available for the other portions of the crates. The inwardly pointing ribs, which lead into the framework walls, are mounted on the vertical supports in any position. For practical reasons and for the obtention of a possibly highest rigidity, it is another feature of the present invention that the ribs for-m T-shaped profiles with supports. Beyond that, in a further development of the present invention the height of the ribs decreases in the crate towards the upper edge f the crate. In this manner the rib profile corresponds with the encountered loads, while saving all superfluous material, and the ribs do not amount to an obstruction for the insertion of the bottles into the crate.

For similar consideraions, the ribs can be rounded 0E or inclined for the formation of guide faces for the bottles; the possibility exists also that the ribs terminate below the upper edge of the crate and serve as setting faces for another crate superposed in upright position.

It is of a particular advantage, if the bottom frame is formed as a circumferential band free from protruding, vertical or transverse outer ribs. In this manner a smooth, uninterrupted, circumferential face for advertisements results, which provides a face for printings. This measure is for the practical use of the crates of importance, which hardly can be underestimated. For the protection of the print in case of rubbing of the crates against each other, the bottom frame may be provided with vertical outer slightly protruding ribs, which do not interfere with the optical effect of the continuous advertising face.

The rigidity of the crates is not reduced, particularly in vertical direction, by the absence of vertical outer ribs, as compared to crates of known construction, since their functions are taken over by the inwardly directed ribs of the supports leading into the framework walls. In particular cases, however, also additional vertical or inclined outer ribs can be provided.

The circumferential band can be limited at the top and bottom by outwardly directed, likewise circumferential edge flanges, which contribute to an additional stifening of the crate.

Yet another novel feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the gripping edge comprises outwardly directed flanges having a U-shaped profile. This measure not only lends high strength to the rim but also aids, together with the above-'described structure of the bottom frame and the vertical supports, in a clear separation and, thereby, of the horizontal and vertical lines, The resulting modern and pleasing form has a significance when considering the practical use of the crates.

A desired diagonal stiffening of the crate is obtained such that the edge flange or flanges of the surrounding band/or the outwardly ldirected flanges of the gripping edge extend out from the crate edges. The thus formed stitfening ribs act as diagonal reinforcements and do not in any way obstruct the insertion of the bottles, nor the adjacent setting of the crates. On the other hand, a high degree of stitfening can be obtained in the corners with lesser quantities of material. Since the diagonal stiffening is of particular importance in the range of the gripping rim, it can be suitable that only the flange forming the upper edge of the crate forming the gripping rim of U-prole is extended from the crate corners.

It is a noteworthy improvement featured by the present invention that at least one of the-surfaces contacting each other when two upright crates are superimposed, that is, either the top face of the gripping rim or the bottom face of the lower frame, are provided with socket-shaped support surfaces, as an extension of the supports. The weight of the upper crate or crates is then carried directly by the supports.

For one, this arrangement results in an advantageous load distribution. Also, it happens frequently that crates are gripped during transportation by one hand only, at one side of the gripping rim, while the crate itself hangs obliquely downwardly. On account of the Weight of both the crate and its contents, the gripping rim, consisting of elastic and resilient plastic material, bends outwardly, particularly, if the rim has been gripped at its longer side face. It is due to the properties of conventionally used synthetic or plastic materials that the upper rim will return to its original shape and proportion after several hours only.

Bottle transport crates are usually piled up or stacked both at the filling plants and at the consu-mer, and also during the transportation, so as to save space. The top frame of the lowest bottle crates is, consequently, loaded by the weight of the upper, nested crates, so that a gripping rim bent while carrying the crate cannot return to its original shape any more. If, as it happens frequently, the crate is successively held and carried at the same gripping rim, a further bending takes place which cannot be remedied after stacking or piling. In this manner, a permanent deformation of the gripping rim and thus of the crate takes place, leading finally to its uselessness.

In contradistinction, the gripping rim of the crates according to the present invention is properly supported and `does not have to take up the loaid of the upper crates between the supports; thus, the novel crates will be capable of resuming their original shape and position, even when disposed at the bottom or in the middle of a vertical stack of crates.

In one preferred embodiment, the support faces are arranged on the underside of the reinforcing or stifening flange forming the bottom lface. In this case, the supporting faces do not impair the overall picture or appearance of the crate. Furthermore, any dirt, that might have accumulated in the corners of the support faces, is not within the region of the crate contents and is normally not even rvisible.

Yet another possible modification relates to the provision of the support faces also on the upper side and the inner edge of the gripping rim, in the form of narrow studs. In this case, the point of attack of the load acting on the gripping rim is exactly aligned with the supports and the load cannot exert any tilting moment onto the gripping rim. Such tilting moment would occur, if the gripping rim had to take up the entire load with its outer rim which is set somewhat outwardly toward the supports and forms a corresponding lever arm.

This tilting moment is also avoided, if, according to still a further feature of the present invention, the studs are connected to form a continuous rim. This expedient may be useful if more than two supports are provided on the front sides, and particularly on the long sides of a crate.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following .detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective front view of the bottle transport crate according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a corner of the crate bottom frame, parts being broken away for the purpose of better demonstration.

Referring now to the drawings, the crate for bottles of any kind, preferably made from molded synthetic or plastic material, consists of an upper frame in the form of a gripping rim l, a framework consisting of longitudinal and transverse walls 2, 3, respectively, and of a bottom frame 4 surrounding the framework. The frame elements 1 and 4 are interconnected by vertical supports 5 having inwardly directed ribs 6 with transitions to the aforementioned framework walls 2, 3. The corners of the crate are left free from the supports 5,

The supports 5 and the ribs 6 together form T-shaped profiles. The rib height gradually decreases from the frame work walls 2, 3 to the top crate edge. Furthermore, the upper ends of the ribs `6 are rounded off so as to form guide faces 7 for the bottles; the ribs 6 terminate below the top edge of the crate and may serve as nesting faces 8 for a crate superposed in an upright position.

The bottom frame 4 consists of a continuous band free from vertical or chamfered outer ribs; its top and bottom edges are `limited by reinforcing or stiifening anges 9 and 10, respectively. In -a similar manner, the upper or gripping frame 1 also has -a U-shaped profile with outwardly directed flanges 11 and 12.

The outer surfaces of the supports 5 are of a curved shape, as can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 2. The supports 5 are thicker in their center portion 26 than at their ends, which abut the stiffening ange 9 of the bottom frame 4, and the ange 11 of the upper or gripping frame 1, respectively.

In the preferred disclosed embodiment, the supports 5 have a curved or spherical configuration only along their vertical sections. It will be understood that they could also be curved in the horizontal direction without appreciably weakening the load-bearing capacity.

The upper iiange 12 of the frame 1 and the lower stitfening flange of the bottom frame 4 lare outwardly extended, so as to provide diagonal reinforcements for the crate at the rounded-off flange corners. This results is widened, horizontal and corner faces 13 and 14, respectively. Centering protrusions 15 are provided on the upper corner faces 13, Which protrusions 15 register with appropriate centering recesses 16 (FIG. 3) on the bottom side of the lower faces 14 of the lower stiffening flange 10, upon superimposing the crates, the elements 15, 16 automatically providing exact vertical alignment yfor two crates in a crate pile.

In a filling plant, the bottles are usually inserted into the crates by machines. In order to -avoid depositing of the bottles on the top edge of the crate, the upper edge of the upper frame 1 has a chamfer or slope 17 on its inner side. For the same purpose, the upper side of the bottom frame 4 and its yupper stiffening flange 9, respectively, has a similar chamfer 18 (FIG. 3) inside the stilfening flange 9. In order to prevent the bottles from being caught, when removing them from the crate, the lower inner edge of the top frame 1 has a similar chamfer or slope (not illustrated).

The framework walls 2, 3 inside the crate have approximately the same heights as the bottom frame 4; between their intersecting points 19 and the transition into the inner surface of the bottom frame, or the ribs of the supports, and the adjoining intersecting points, these walls are cutout toward the crate bottom. In this manner, the upper edges of the Walls 2, 3 form chamfered or sloping guide faces for the bottles, facilitating their insertion.

FIG. 3 shows that the crate walls 2, 3 reach down to the bottom, where they are connected by means of longitudinal and transverse ribs 20 and 21, respectively, these being parallel to the later-al and front outer walls o-f the crate. The yafore-mentioned ribs 20` and 21 are arranged such that their intersecting points 22 are substantially at the center of each compartment in the framework. The bottles inserted into the crate consequently rest on the longitudinal `and cross ribs 20 and 21 and on their intersecting points. They cannot fall through the apertures between the longitudinal and transverse ribs, should it happen that the bottles are inserted with their necks down into the crate, since the ribs will still support them.

The walls 2, 3 have cut-outs 30 in the region of their intersecting points 19, between the ribs 20, 21, from the bottom, as can be seen in FIG. 1. This saves material without impairing the rigidity and stiffness of the crates. Owing to the provision of these cut-outs 30, the crates lend themselves more easily to cleaning.

In the region of the crate corners, there is an integral diagon-al rib 23 in lieu of the longitudinal and transverse 'ribs 20 and 21. From the center of the rib 23, a supporting rib 24 leads to the respective corner.

On the underside vof the lower flange 10 on the bottom frame 4, supporting faces or socket faces 25 are provided (FIG. 3), which protrude slightly from the flange 10. With these socket faces 25, each crate stands on the crate below upon piling up the crates, so that the weight of the crate or crates rests substantially directly on the vertical supports 5.

Instead of the lower socket faces 25, `as shown in FIG. 2, las an alternative expedient, narrow studs 27 can be provided on the Iupper side and on the inner edge of the top frame 1.

I claim:

1. A molded plastic bottle transport crate, comprising a rigid upper frame,

a rigid bottom frame spaced apart from said upper frame,

substantially vertical supporting wall portions rigidly connecting and spacing said frames at points spaced from the corners of the crate,

-reinforcing ribs projecting inwardly from said wall portions, and extending from said bottom frame into the range of said upper frame, and

integral partition means disposed inside said bottom frame and including longitudinal and transverse walls, respectively, spaced apart at predetermined distances, said partition means being yadapted to hold bottles in the crate.

2. The transport crate, as set forth in claim 1, in which a pair of said vwall portions and ribs is provided b'etween pairs of said corners.

3. The transport crate, as set forth in claim 1, in

which the outer surfaces of said wall portions are outwardly curved so as to increase the load bearing capacity without noteworthy increase in material requirement for said wall portions.

4. The transport crate, as set forth in claim 1, in which the height of said ribs decreases toward said upper frame.

5. The transport crate, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ribs terminate short of the upper edge of said crate and are formed with nesting faces adapted to receive -another crate superposed in Vupright position.

6. The transport crate, as set forth in claim 1, in which said frames both have an outwardly directed, peripheral ange,

7 8 the latter including stacking means for positioning one FOREIGN PATENTS crate in upright position 'atop another crate, and 939 085 10/1963 Great Britain said stacking means includes supporting surfaces in the 9 40041 10/1963 Great Britain region of said wall portions adjacent at least one 9511891 3/1964 Great Britain. 0f Sald anges- 5 952,979 3/1964 Great Britain.

References Cited JOSEPH R. LECLA1R,Pffma1y Examiner. UNITED STATES PATENTS G. E. LowRANCE, Assistant Examiner. 2,830,729 4/ 1958 Brackett 220 3,148,797 9/ 1964 Cloyd 220-72 X 10 U.S. Cl. X.R. 

